Monday, May 12, 2008

The Fairytales Of Carmel Cottages

Once upon a time a young woman asked her beloved husband to build her a small cottage by the sea. The husband dreamed up and built a teeny-tiny house with a sloping roof of hand-cut shingles and a stone chimney that wasn't quite straight. He named the house "Hansel" and his fairy tale began . . . .

Gretel House

This whimiscal and fantasy world homes located in Carmel, California is the work of the late Hugh Comstock. He built his first house for his wife in 1924-1925. It was interesting to know that Comstock had no previous building/architechural experience and used no regualr tools while building the cottage. Soon after, locals began to ask Comstock to build their homes and he obliged. The lots sold for $100- a piece and now to this present day are selling for millions.He built dozens of charming houses around Carmel that created a magic that people from around the world come to see.

The idea was to build a little village in a forest kinda feel. To this day there are no stoplights and no fast-food chains in the location. The magic still remains down the narrow, sidewalk-less streets covered in pines and low cypresses that hide tiny cottages. The fairytale lives on, happily ever after!

Rapenzuel House

The Mushroom Home

The original "Hansel" house built in 1924-1925 and now has been restored.

Via: Linda Hartong flickr Fairytale cottages by the sea setI visited Carmel when I was about 18-19 years old and did not really appreciate the cottage and the town. I just thought thats cool, I mean I still do think that but now I look at the little cottages completely different- I have interest in them. They are so beautiful and unique. I would love to go back oneday! The place really is an enchanting storybook fairytale come true!

Also here are some interesting books to check out if you are interested in more unique homes: